Boxnig Day sees record shopping numbers

RECORD Boxing Day shopping numbers that saw 2,000 queue from 3am outside a Next store have helped lift an average Christmas for retailers.

RECORD Boxing Day shopping numbers that saw 2,000 queue from 3am outside a Next store have helped lift an average Christmas for retailers.

Shopping parks and traders reported that savvy shoppers failed to ignite the tills in the build up to Christmas.

But as the sale signs went up on Boxing Day shoppers piled into town centres and retail parks to splash the cash.

Eagles Meadow centre in Wrexham revealed that bargain hungry shoppers started arriving at 3am to queue outside Next, and by 6am there were 2,000 people snaking their way around the centre – double the number on the same date last year.

Broughton Shopping Park had its best ever Boxing Day with more than 20,000 coming in – up 2% on the previous best for that day – while 9,000 arrived at Mostyn Champneys in Llandudno.

Next stores at Parc Llandudno and Bangor also had people queuing from the early hours to get in.

Eagles Meadow manager Kevin Critchley said: “The Boxing Day sales were massive for us. Retailers, restaurants and the cinema are reporting very brisk trade, especially considering the time of year.”

The centre had also reported record footfall in the week before Christmas. Kevin added: “The last full week before Christmas was the busiest week in the history of the centre since it opened in October 2008. We welcomed 89,076 shoppers, which beat the previous highest figure of 76,054 by 13,022 or 17%.”

He added: “I think people are now realising that Eagles Meadow is a big asset for the whole town. Around half the people who come to Eagles Meadow use the bridge linking us with the High Street which means they are also shopping in the rest of the town.”

Colin Gilligan, who manages the Broughton Shopping Centre and Mostyn Champneys in Llandudno, described the pre Christmas sales as “satisfactory” but said record numbers came in on Boxing Day.

He said: “Customer numbers over Christmas have been equal to or possibly slightly higher than the previous year, but shoppers are being cautious – they are being very savvy about what they are buying.

“Overall I would say it has been a satisfactory year. Boxing Day was the busiest we have ever known at Broughton and that day becomes more and more significant – they were queuing from before 6am.

“In Llandudno the footfall was on a par with the previous year but again shoppers were savvy about how they were spending – they were looking for bargains.”

Kate Jones, centre services manager at the Deiniol Shopping Centre in Bangor, said around 60,000 shoppers came through in the week before Christmas and a further 40,000 in the last week of 2012.

She said: “In terms of footfall that is slightly down on 2011, but having spoken to a number of retailers they have been very positive about this year.

“Some are telling me they have exceeded takings for last year which is good news and surprising – it shows that those coming were intent on spending.”

Jane Seddon, who owns Gecko, Rhosneigr, and Rhosneigr Gifts, said: “We have been very busy since Boxing Day and it is lovely to see the shop full and the stock moving.

“We have put some good sales on which has helped to bring people in, both holidaymakers and local customers.

“The pre-Christmas period was steady with no records broken but it has been good since then. We need to do well now before it goes quiet again.”

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